In a shocking revelation from Walter Isaacson's biography of Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur secretly ordered the shutdown of his satellite communications network starlink off the Crimea.
The motivation behind this action was to disrupt a possible Ukrainian attack in the Russian fleet.
Elon Musk's decision to disable Starlink had immediate consequences. Ukrainian underwater drones, armed with explosives, lost connectivity and failed to reach their intended targets.
This move, driven by Musk's fear of a nuclear response from Russia, underscores the seriousness of his role in international conflicts.
Musk's actions have put him in the unique position of a power broker on the world stage. He has become a figure American as well as Russian officials cannot ignore, as his control of critical Starlink communications infrastructure has had a direct impact on events in Ukraine.
It initially provided Ukraine with Starlink terminals for communication during duration of their conflict with Russia, but later hesitated when he saw that they were being used for offensive purposes.
This dilemma led to communication between Musk, Ukrainian officials and high-ranking representatives of Joe Biden's administration.
Musk usually does not stay silent about what is happening around him. So he is expected to answer about all this very soon. Whether he provides a clear explanation or justification for his actions will be critical in shaping public opinion.
The revelation that Musk ordered the shutdown of Starlink during a Ukraine attack is a story that goes beyond technology. It highlights the power and influence that tech giants wield in our world today.
